UPDATED FEB 2020. Have you ever thought about visiting Tallinn, Estonia? To be quite honest, I hadn’t thought of it at all. It was a place that I knew existed, but that’s as far as my thought process on Estonia had gone. Then the opportunity for a weekend away in Tallinn came knocking at my door and I thought ‘well, why not?’ It turned out to be an awesome place to visit and I’m happy to share it with you. Here’s my weekend planning guide for 2 days in Tallinn to help you plan your own trip.
2 Days In Tallinn – How To Spend A Weekend In Estonia’s Capital
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
FAQ for spending 2 days in Tallinn
Which airport do you fly into?
Tallinn Lennart Meri (TLL) is the international airport.
Can you take a ferry to Tallinn?
Another popular way to get to Tallinn is by ferry from Helsinki. You can find more info on timetables here.
What currency is used in Tallinn?
The Euro.
Do you need a visa to visit?
Here is the list of countries that need a visa to visit Estonia.
What language is used?
Estonian is the official language, though English is commonly spoken.
Where to stay in Tallinn
I stayed at the Von Stackelberg Hotel and it was fantastic.
The location is handy because you can walk to the sights quite easily, the room was comfortable, and my favorite feature of the hotel was the ZEN Spa.
I used the Japanese Jacuzzi and sauna one night which I’ll talk more about later in this post, and I also booked a body treatment and massage which was pure heaven.
If you’d prefer a different hotel, guesthouse or apartment, I recommend searching on Booking.com. I use this site to book accommodation when I travel and I can always find a great deal there.
Von Stackelberg Hotel is a perfect base for your 2 days in Tallinn
Do you need to rent a car for 2 days in Tallinn?
Old town Tallinn is very walking-friendly, so for the majority of the time, I traveled the cobblestone streets on foot.
I recommend renting a car if you’d like to explore some waterfalls and cliffs outside of Tallinn.
I rented a car from ABC Rent. The car was really cheap, only about €80 for the weekend which was good value for money compared with taxis and public transportation.
Driving in Tallinn is easy so even if you’re not a confident driver in new places, it’s a good place to start.
Things to do
Visit the Spooky Maiden Tower
Generally speaking, Tallinn has an underlying vibe of spookiness. From the ghost stories to the torture museum, there is certainly a unique feel to the town.
One of the spookiest things to do in Tallinn is visiting the haunted Maiden Tower.
There have even been many ghost sightings at the tower that was originally created to keep the poor people and ghosts away from the rich nobilities.
Once you arrive, visit the museum, wander around the surrounding areas like the Danish Kings Garden, visit the cafe to get a warm drink, and of course take photos of the eerie monk statues.
How to get to the Maiden Tower:
A 5-minute walk from Old Town.
Cost:
Free to look around at the statues.
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Walk around Town Hall Square
The Town Hall Square and the surrounding streets are perfect for wandering.
I strolled these streets by myself day and night and, not only was it easy for me to find my way around (that’s kind of a big deal since I can get lost in a parking lot), I also felt safe there walking by myself.
There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, market stalls, and stores with handmade goods to browse.
I picked up some handmade wool mittens and a wool beanie to keep warm and they are my ever so practical Estonian souvenirs.
Town Hall Square in Tallinn
Day trip from Tallinn – visit the Jagala Juga
If you drive about half an hour from town, not only do you get a scenic drive, but you can also see the Jagala Juga.
Juga is Estonian for waterfall and this one is the widest natural waterfall in the country.
You can view it from either side. I started on one side then drove around to view the other side to explore more.
You can also walk down to the base of the falls for a closer look which is pretty cool and a nice spot for a photo. It’s not an all-day activity but if you can get a car it’s a nice outing to see outside of Tallinn.
How to get to Jagala Juga from Tallinn:
- 30 minutes drive (you can use Jagala Juga in Google Maps)
- Just over an hour using public transport. Take bus #152 to Jõelähtme then #J2 to Koogi kauplus
Cost:
Free entrance.
Jagala Juga
Another waterfall near Tallinn – Keila Juga
About 45 minutes drive from Tallinn is the Keila Juga.
As with Jagala, this one has a scenic drive to put you in the nature mood before you get there.
Aside from the waterfall itself, which is quite gorgeous and makes for nice Kodak moments, there is also an easy nature walking track complete with a suspension bridge and lovelock sculpture.
I was lucky to have visited during fall so the walking track was lined with red, gold, and orange hues, though I am sure it is a pretty area no matter what season you visit.
How to get to the Keila Juga:
- Drive 45 minutes from Tallinn.
- 1 Hour on bus #237 to Keila-Joa.
Cost:
Free.
Keila Juga
Day trip to the Pakri Peninsula
If you have time during your 2 days in Tallinn, take a drive to the Pakri Peninsula. I drove there after visiting the Keila Juga and it was one of those spur of the moment things that paid off big time.
I stopped for a hot coffee and a bite to eat at Pakri Parun OU cafe and the food was delicious, so this place comes with my highest recommendation.
With a full belly, I followed the walking trail on the cliff and walked for some time, stopping to take photos along the way.
There is a lighthouse here which seemed to be an attraction you could enter, though I just stuck to my nature walk.
It is a beautiful area to explore and shows a very different side to Tallinn that you would miss if you stay in town.
Pakri Peninsula
Eat authentic food
The food is definitely one thing I love about Estonia and I encourage anyone planning a visit to try as much as possible.
I tried bear, duck, boar, and even the blood sausages. I also had some of the most delicious grilled salmon I’ve ever had.
A lot of the food you find is organic and GMO-free so that’s just an added bonus – maybe that’s why it tastes so good?
In the Town Hall Square, you can find many restaurants that sell these traditional foods – Tule Estonia was my favorite.
It is a little more expensive than meals I had outside of town but it was well worth it for the ambiance of sitting there in my blanket (most restaurants offered blankets if you sat outside) and enjoying the delicious food under the moonlight.
Wind down with a sauna and spa session
Saunas are a way of life in this area of the world, so be sure to enjoy a full sauna experience during your 2 days in Tallinn.
I stayed at the Von Stackelberg Hotel which had a sauna and Japanese bath in the building.
You can rent it out privately for €40 meaning you have the whole place to yourself, or non-privately for €10.
I rented it out privately, ordered a drink and snacks, and enjoyed an hour and a half of relaxing bliss going between the sauna and bath.
I wish I could do that every day because it was the perfect way to end a day of exploring.
Visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
One of my favorite things to do in Tallinn was to take photos of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
At the time I took the photos, it was freezing cold and late at night. My nose was running and my hands were almost too cold to push the trigger on the camera.
But, this structure had caught my eye every time I walked by so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take photos of it.
It’s just a short walk from the spooky Maiden Tower so you could wander by while you are up there and check it out.
This cathedral even houses 11 bells, the largest of which is 15 tonnes can you believe it? You can listen to the bells from outside then go inside to check out the mosaics which I have read is a sight to see.
I didn’t go inside, but if you have seen them please let us know how amazing they are in the comments below.
How to get to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral:
5-minute walk from Old Town.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Have a themed meal at Olde Hansa
You just have to stop by Olde Hansa – it’s a feast fit for a king!
The restaurant is themed so it becomes not just a meal, but a complete dining experience where you are taken back in time.
As a guest, you are immersed in this period of time right down to the littlest details.
For example, in the dark, candlelit setting you won’t get ‘cutlery’ to eat with – you get ‘tools’. You can drink the finest honey beer not from a simple glass, but from a large, clay jug.
The waiter, dressed in medieval clothing, serves the meal which was possibly the best I had during my time there.
It was hard to choose one thing from the many appealing choices on the menu, but I chose the duck and this dish was so rich and full of flavor that it did not disappoint.
Overall, the experience was something unique, memorable, and truly added something special to my time in Tallinn.
Olde Hansa entrance
Find the L cobblestone in Tallinn Town Hall Square
Read this post to get the story on this one, but basically, there is a spot in the Town Hall Square that has an L shape in the cobblestone to mark the spot where a priest was beheaded.
I read the story and it turned into somewhat of a scavenger hunt for me to find this spot.
I walked around the town square by myself, staring at the ground the whole time trying to find it. I’m sure people must’ve thought I was nuts, but I did get there in the end.
After reading the story, it was quite interesting to see the spot and think of what happened on that day many years ago.
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That 40 euro sauna sounds great. I have a friend in Estonia and I am planning to visit this lovely country one day. I’m too excited to experience what you experienced.
These recommendations are awesome. I travelled through the Baltics by train a few years back but only stopped in Riga. Time to go back methinks!
Thanks for the guide! Always wanted to travel the Baltics, but so far I never made it. Sadly.
great article about Tallinn.
Thank you!
It sounds like a fascinating place to visit! Thanks for sharing! I love exploring different countries and getting massages! There’s nothing better! 😁
So true – it’s a great way to end the day!